Awake For A Moment

The line from my speech at dAds wedding that got the biggest laugh. I can see dads face almost crying with laughter as I look up from my mic. 3.11.16

My soon to be bros quelling all my fears of being an embarrassing dictator of an older step sister, when they told me they had been practicing dance steps and singing for our performance at our parents wedding. They are the best. 3.10.16

Mom asking me tacitly and snottily and fundamentally insecurely about dads wedding. Suddenly I'm done playing along. He's happy for the first time. She's not. No patience for that shit. 3.8.16

At my book club the girls preface their admissions with a warning of over sharing. It never is. And I never do. And they're more responsive to eachother than to me. Do I need to express shame before I share my feelings in order for them to be relatable. As a side note, I love my book club. 3.7.16 - crown heights at Megan's house

3.7.16

2.6.16 - The Frammerie, Kinderhook, NY

Love in the making. 3.5.16 - driving to Holt Preserve

From She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb which I read in four days flat. 2.4.16 - train to Albany

They say the insults are what you remember but sometimes the compliments stick. This one will, from a woman I idolize, who committed over a drink to help me realize a long back-burnered dream. Her support and enthusiasm meant more to me this week than she knew. 3.3.16 - Harvard Club, NYC

3.2.16 - Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn

The girl at the registrar of my university in Italy telling me they suddenly decided against a class I was going to teach there this year. It felt personal. 3.1.16

Me to my flinching mother as I unwound the ace bandage from her chest, peeled off the blood soaked cotton and snipped away crusted threads from the incision on her breast. When it was all off we sat breathing together quietly. 2.28.16 - Park Avenue

Me to my older gay cousin who was worried about me or my partner wearing gender non-conforming clothing to a family event. Amazing how the generations pick and choose their battles. 2.27.16 - walking around the reservoir at Central Park

Great pride and sadness when a friend from my time in Italy who now manages a restaurant treated me and my colleagues to platters of pickled vegetables and raclette melted cheese and a plate of cheeses, aged parmigiano reggiano and sweet Gorgonzola and a funky washed rind, with a side plate of honey topped with toasted hazelnuts. I love feeling connected to the food world, beyond my advocacy. It's dumb but it does make me proud to know people who offer gifts and access. It all reminds me of Italy, where relationships are currency, and food is love. I miss those years of unthinking indulgence and the woman who was by my side when I learned how to moan with pleasure at food. 2.26.16 - Eataly, rooftop bar

An old old friend commenting on the slow building but suddenly understood reality that all of us kids have found the people we expect to make families with. 2.25.16 - BoCaphe Vietnamese restaurant on Lafayette St.